Impulsive March, a month that always likes to keep us guessing, entered courteously enough, stage right, like a drenched lamb. The first day of the month gave us  unending rain. Picking up from departing February which exited, stage left, with its own drenching rainfall.

We found a bit of an early afternoon lull and took that opportunity to gear up for a shorter circuit in the ravine with the awareness that rain could descend again in earnest, at any time. We stopped only briefly to talk with a neighbour about our whacky weather before moving on to the ravine, me anxious not to waste time and make the most of the rain-absent interregnum.

Infinitesimal droplets of rain hung on the atmosphere, in that brief pause of the day. It manifested as a near-distant fog, and closer to the ravine's creek as we descended, into a fine, grey mist. It is a beautiful phenomenon, lending a wistful air to the forest. It is mystical in appearance as though suddenly the landscape has been transformed into an evanescent fairytale.

Jackie and Jillie are oblivious to these naturally-occurring differences in atmospheric conditions. They take everything for granted as their natural playground undergoes minute and sometimes compellingly-obvious temporary alterations. Their interests lie in their olfactory senses, in what they can spy with their round little eyes, alert to movement they're eager to respond to, in feeling out what the forest offers day to day.

Brief encounters with other dogs walking their human companions are their favourites, but the occasional squirrel impudently appearing as a streak of black or red in motion on the snowy landscape certainly perks up their attention. And away they go!

By the time we came across Max, whipping his way through the trails, a frail looking man of slender proportions who never, even on the most frigid of winter days wears more than a slight rainjacket open at the throat as he hurtles his way through the forest, walking stick in each hand, the atmosphere had noticeably darkened once again and light rain began to fall. At that juncture we were almost home but he had a long way yet to go.